Amidst the post 9-11 hysteria, we got most wanted Iraqi playing cards, freedom fries, and that Enya song that makes everyone cry. Seeking to capitalize on this outburst of patriotic fervor, Mayfair Games, creators of Settlers of Catan and countless variants, tested small quantities of a war-themed ‘Settlers’ spin-off called The Settlers of Iraq.
The gameplay only deviated slightly from the original game. The game added two oil resource hexes and allowed players to build tanks which could be used to raze buildings and roads for a steep cost. The addition of tanks to the game added a much needed defensive aspect, but this caused most games to devolve into pissing matches and hurt feelings.
Another difference is that Settlers of Iraq replaced the faceless robber with Saddam Hussein. The robber functioned the same way as in the original with the added rule that only soldier cards (a US marine) could force Hussein off of an oil field. WHO NEEDS 7s? WE ARE THE USA.
But just as WMD were never found in Iraq, neither was this game found on many store shelves. Mayfair quietly let the game rot because they feared that it couldn’t compete against War On Terror, the board game.
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I have this game! It cost 10k to get it from eBay but it was totally worth it. You forgot to mention that instead of victory point cards you can get a "Mission Accomplished" card that allows you to extend the game indefinitely.
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ReplyDeleteLOL soldier, U Mad?
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